17 replies to this topic

[HokieTrismegistus]

So I bought a new bike pump, and if you happen to be in the Public House as of late, it turns out biking is all the craze. So the pump I bought came with two attachments: a spike like you'd insert into a basketball/soccerball/what have you, and a cone like you would use to inflate an inflatable matress.I have a universal carboy lid:So, what I did was I put the racking cane in the middle hole to the desired depth, and put the bike pump nozzle into the other hole. One pump got the fluids running. Two pumps got it solid. Three pumps had so much pressure that it popped the lid off the carboy. This technique is a keeper. Thought I'd pass it along.

[jayb151]

wouldn't blowing into the hole work just as well?That said, nice idea!

[HokieTrismegistus]

wouldn't blowing into the hole work just as well?That said, nice idea!

It usually takes a shit ton of breaths and leaves me red-faced trying to maintain the pressure.

[Jimmy James]

It usually takes a shit ton of breaths and leaves me red-faced trying to maintain the pressure.

Guess you need to do some more actual biking....

[tag]

CO₂ is good too.

[BrewerGeorge]

Sounds like a decent solution. Blowing by mouth is so dirty. (watch it )

[EWW]

CO2 is the best answer, but one of those cheap online air filters would make this even better

[HokieTrismegistus]

<br />CO₂ is good too.<br />

<br /><br /><br />I haven't figured out how to use CO2 as easily.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Sounds like a decent solution. Blowing by mouth is so dirty. (watch it )

B3 sells filters that you can blow through to accomplish this. Someone on the board actually already reviewed it: https://www.brews-br...tarter-from-b3/

[ChefLamont]

It usually takes a shit ton of breaths and leaves me red-faced trying to maintain the pressure.

That's a punchline looking for a joke.....oh wait wrong forum.So are you putting a sterile filter in between the pump and carboycap, or just connected directly?Edit: I might also be concerned that any lubricant in the pump might make it into the carboy. Maybe, maybe not.

[Stout_fan]

That's a punchline looking for a joke.....oh wait wrong forum.So are you putting a sterile filter in between the pump and carboycap, or just connected directly?Edit: I might also be concerned that any lubricant in the pump might make it into the carboy. Maybe, maybe not.

If you just rack the air comes from the local environment anyway. So I can't see the need for a filter.But you do raise a very good point about the lubricant.And don't forget, it's probably Chinese lubricant.

[matt6150]

I always thought my auto-siphon was the easiest thing. Does nobody use these things anymore? I don't here anybody talking about them much. I've had the same one since I started brewing over 3 years ago and it works great! No complaints, am I just not cool because I use one?

[Recklessdeck]

If you just rack the air comes from the local environment anyway. So I can't see the need for a filter.But you do raise a very good point about the lubricant.And don't forget, it's probably Chinese lubricant.

Funny thing about chinese lubricant....Oh wait, wrong forumThey do make oil and water traps for condensed air lines, like for when you spray paint. Although for the trouble it would take to hook one of those up to a bike pump, you could prob just use Co2

[passlaku]

I've broken two auto siphons and decided to switch to a ss cane and siphon old school. The worst part about it is that if you lose your siphon with only an inch or two left in the carboy then it is quite a hassle to get it restarted.

[SchwanzBrewer]

I still do it the old fashioned way. I put starsan solution in the hose coming off the racking cane and then gravity feed it into a bucket, wait a sec until the nasty bit finds it way through, then I pinch it off and put it in the keg. Its not terribly difficult and its always reliable.Cheers,Rich

[brewguy]

B3 sells filters that you can blow through to accomplish this. Someone on the board actually already reviewed it: https://www.brews-br...tarter-from-b3/

This is the setup I have. Orange cap with a racking cane in the center hole, and a filter in the other one. It really doesn't take a lot of air pressure to start the siphon. I went through two auto-siphons before switching to this method.I looked into those small CO2 canisters, but the filter was cheaper. It's also a lot easier to regulate the pressure.

[siouxbrewer]

SS racking cane (biggest diameter you can find)and push with CO2. Works like a charm.

[CaptRon]

I always thought my auto-siphon was the easiest thing. Does nobody use these things anymore? I don't here anybody talking about them much. I've had the same one since I started brewing over 3 years ago and it works great! No complaints, am I just not cool because I use one?

I use the plastic auto-siphon myself. It works beautifully, every time.